After celebrating the 100th anniversary of cheeseburgers in Pasadena, followed by our Hamburger Fry, and months of votes and elimination rounds in our Tournament of Cheeseburgers, involving a who’s who of cheeseburger makers, we finally have our champ!
Well, spill it already! After a hard-fought battle to finish, Hangaburs from El Sereno has taken the top prize in the LAist Tournament of Cheeseburgers. The Latina-owned pop-up is run by Alicia Lopez and her wife, Cecilia Ledezma, who can be found on the weekends all over Orange County and Los Angeles, serving up their signature smashburgers from their hard-to-miss yellow tent.
Who were the runners-up? Second place went to El Brewjo, and third place went to Bartz BBQ, and fourth to Burgers for Life.
What does the winner get? It's a lovely trophy, with bragging rights and probably lines around the block.
It’s been one for the books, and by that, we mean you, our LAist audience, have proven time and time again that your love for cheeseburgers has no bounds.
We kicked off our Tournament of Cheeseburgers in May, inviting you to tell us about your favorite cheeseburger in SoCal. And boy, did you!
Hangaburs owners Alice Lopez and her wife Cecilia Ledezma, have smashed their way to the top spot
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Hangaburs
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Hangaburs, the Latina-owned, El Sereno smashburger pop-up is run by Alicia Lopez and her wife Cecilia Ledezma.
"Oh my God... This is really great," Lopez said while speaking on Morning Edition with Susanne Whatley and Food Editor Gab Chabrán after learning that Hangaburs took the the top spot. "We just keep doing everything we can to make the best burgers we can. And we're proud of them. We just want to keep serving everyone with a smile."
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• 4:55
Alicia Lopez of Hangaburs on Morning Edition with Susanne Whatley and Food Editor Gab Chabrán
When Lopez first heard about the Tournament of Cheeseburgers in May, she wasn’t sure how well they might do in the contest.
“I think I tend to second guess ourselves,” Lopez said.
But despite what Lopez might think, the pop-up has captured the hearts (and tastebuds) of their small but mighty following.
The two can be found on the weekends, popping up all over Orange County and Los Angeles, serving their signature smashburgers from their hard-to-miss yellow tent.
Lopez said her affection for burgers runs deep, starting in childhood. When Ledezma and Lopez first began dating, they immediately bonded over their love of burgers and, later on, even served burgers at their wedding. During a trip to Tepic, the capital city of the state of Nayarit, Mexico, the couple tried a burger, and it blew their collective minds. The pop-up developed from there.
The Hangaburs' menu isn’t huge, with only two burgers. The first is their signature smash, made with a toasted bun from Melrose Baking Company, a thin layer of onions, a thin pickle cut long ways, and their signature sauce. The other is their Tepic burger, inspired by that fateful trip, which is made with a grilled ham slice, American cheese, grilled panela cheese, and spicy mustard creme.
When asked what sets their burger apart, Lopez said, “From the beginning, we focus on our technique, the flavors, and the balance of flavors. That's always been important to us. We do everything fresh, even the pickles, slicing all those, and everything is extra cared for. I feel people taste that detail.”
Come along to our live Tournament of Cheeseburgers event this Sunday, July 7, at Smorgasburg LA, at the Row in DTLA.
It's from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with more cheeseburgers than you could ever want, kid-friendly activities and most importantly ... the presentation of the trophy to the winner!
